Nonfics
Tomatometer-approved publication
Rating
Title/Year
Author
1
Worlds of Ursula K. Le Guin (2018)
Le Guin's life story, as presented in the documentary, isn't particularly dramatic, but it is inspiring thanks to the author's incomparable imagination.
Posted Nov 14, 2018
2
"Less hubristic than its source material, Morgan Neville's softer version of this project is perhaps more satisfying."
Posted Nov 7, 2018
3
Distant Constellation (2018)
Maybe it's not a bad film, objectively, but I don't have any reason to recommend it.
Posted Nov 5, 2018
4
Liyana (2018)
The visually innovative documentary is a testament to the healing power of storytelling.
Posted Oct 31, 2018
5
Monrovia, Indiana (2018)
Frederick Wiseman has made his dullest documentary. But a dull blade can still cut deep.
Posted Oct 26, 2018
6
On Her Shoulders (2018)
Films can be more than one thing, and this documentary rightfully gets to have its cake and eat it, too, doing so without any irony or hypocrisy.
Posted Oct 21, 2018
7
The Times of Bill Cunningham (2018)
It's the definition of a hagiography, and it winds up being far blander than its fascinating subject deserves.
Posted Oct 19, 2018
8
The Price of Everything (2018)
'The Price of Everything' is like much of the art it showcases: a would-be hodgepodge that comes together as some kind of masterpiece.
Posted Oct 18, 2018
9
MATANGI/MAYA/M.I.A. (2018)
The effect of Loveridge's choices are almost alarmingly cohesive and summon as much M.I.A. as the decade she herself evoked.
Posted Oct 9, 2018
10
306 Hollywood (2018)
Elan and Jonathan Bogarin make a marvelous debut with this fanciful yet unfeigned portrait of their grandmother.
Posted Sep 26, 2018
11
Freyer's talking heads implore that Winogrand was a man of his time, a statement that mitigates the intensity of her examination and means absolutely nothing.
Posted Sep 21, 2018
12
Fahrenheit 11/9 (2018)
Moore believes the world is in greater trouble than ever right now. His latest doc is his most imperative yet.
Posted Sep 21, 2018
13
American Dharma (2018)
Morris does occasionally challenge Bannon on the facts, but he fails to examine the unspoken premise of the documentary: that Bannon is to be taken wholly seriously.
Posted Sep 20, 2018
14
Exit Music (2018)
At times, the complexity is overwhelming. You'll find yourself crying and you won't even be sure why.
Posted Sep 20, 2018
15
The Truth About Killer Robots is thinner in its content and less focused in its thesis than I'd hoped for.
Posted Sep 15, 2018
16
Walking on Water (2018)
A rich, visual record of a monument to transience.
Posted Sep 14, 2018
17
Heartbound (2018)
There's this marriage of Metz's more cinematic approach to these lives and Plambech's academic observance ... sometimes such a clash of method works, sometimes not.
Posted Sep 12, 2018
18
A fascinating snapshot of a period that birthed one of the most controversial presidencies in global politics. For that reason alone, the doc is well worth your time
Posted Sep 9, 2018
19
Maiden (2018)
20
American Circumcision (2018)
A lively debate over the fate of foreskins.
Posted Sep 7, 2018
21
Bisbee '17 (2018)
On an emotional level, Bisbee '17 may be inadequate. On a technical level, it's extraordinary.
Posted Sep 6, 2018
22
The documentary's under-90-minute brevity makes these events feel like they are happening even faster than they did, creating a simulacra of witnessing Basquiat's talent.
Posted Aug 31, 2018
23
Songwriter (2018)
The documentary appears to be a passion project for both director and subject... But it never comes off as a statement of "this is my famous cousin, look how talented he is."
Posted Aug 28, 2018
24
Creates a phenomenal portrait of McEnroe in the process of its other intentions.
Posted Aug 21, 2018
25
Do You Trust this Computer? (2018)
A slick evaluation of info, to the effect that I imagined a computer could have directed (or at least edited) this documentary.
Posted Aug 17, 2018
26
Minding the Gap (2018)
A piercing excavation of the wide-reaching pain caused by domestic abuse.
Posted Aug 16, 2018
27
King Cohen is the love letter and thorough career retrospective it needs to be.
Posted Aug 14, 2018
28
The Cleaners (2018)
Captures a dystopian moment for the history books with clear-eyed curiosity.
Posted Jul 19, 2018
29
Makala (2018)
Avoids most of the traps of exoticism...but it makes the mistake of using observation as its only route to intimacy.
Posted Apr 21, 2018
30
A wonderful reminder that documentaries can be both joyous and deep at the same time.
Posted Mar 28, 2018
31
The China Hustle (2018)
The documentary's banal incredulousness at its subject suggests Rothstein should watch a few seasons of The Sopranos.
Posted Mar 28, 2018
32
Our Blood Is Wine (2018)
A documentary with far more on its mind than fermented grape juice, though it sometimes seems at a loss for what to say and when to say it."
Posted Mar 8, 2018
33
Beuys (2018)
The movie will not appeal to most, but it's hard to imagine that Bueys's own work ever did either.
Posted Mar 5, 2018
34
Winnie (2017)
Most rousing of all in the film is Winnie herself. She's still going strong and is a vibrant presence through a number of interviews.
Posted Feb 27, 2018
35
Rat Film (2017)
I appreciate the film's attempt to expose systemic racism through Baltimore's overwhelming infiltration of rampaging pests, but it's too often distracted with experimentation.
Posted Feb 25, 2018
36
The film doesn't just track a timeline of the founding of institutions; it reminds us of how increased education influenced and further inspires civil rights movements.
Posted Feb 19, 2018
37
Knife Skills (2017)
Not just an advertisement for Edwins or even a simple pat on the back for its do-gooder objective ... it's a fascinating environment to encounter through the film.
Posted Feb 11, 2018
38
Mindy Alper is compelling, both for her eccentricities and her genius, as well as tragically for her story of abuse and terrible treatments and continued medical problems.
Posted Feb 11, 2018
39
Traffic Stop (2017)
The contrast is very effective. Breaion King's real-life moments show her humanity opposite the cops treating her like she has none.
Posted Feb 11, 2018
40
Edith+Eddie (2017)
Another strong short that lets its issue-film side permeate from the background of the story, not overstated but not buried.
Posted Feb 11, 2018
41
Heroin(e) (2017)
One of the most all-around successful and satisfying films of its kind that I've seen in a while.
Posted Feb 11, 2018
42
All pretty good and more importantly for the Oscars pretty important ... The best is Heroin(e), one of the most all-around successful and satisfying films of its kind."
Posted Feb 11, 2018
43
Hal (2018)
A vivid portrait of artistic integrity and complete commitment to the art of filmmaking.
Posted Jan 30, 2018
44
42 Grams (2017)
45
RBG (2018)
Regardless of your political ideology, you'll come away with a newfound respect for the tireless pioneer of gender equality.
Posted Jan 27, 2018
46
Three Identical Strangers (2018)
This story has more twists and turns than a second-rate soap opera.
Posted Jan 25, 2018
47
Won't You Be My Neighbor? (2018)
If only for a few hours, this documentary proves that human kindness can be contagious.
Posted Jan 25, 2018
48
Generation Wealth (2018)
Lauren Greenfield's stinging indictment of greed and excess also packs an unexpected emotional wallop.
Posted Jan 22, 2018
49
Kangaroo (2018)
A bumper sticker of a film
Posted Jan 20, 2018
50
Jane (2017)
A wonderful tribute to the life and work of an extraordinary woman.
Posted Jan 18, 2018